The George — Restaurant in London

I have to be honest, this was the worst dining experience I have ever had. My friends and I booked in for a Sunday lunch today; our table was booked for 2pm for 3 people. We got some drinks and ordered our food at 2:15. One of the women in our group was vegetarian and tried to order the mushroom wellington only to be told they had none. Bearing in mind there were very few people there and Sunday roast should be the focus of the kitchen on a Sunday we were pretty shocked that they had run out of the only vegetarian option by 2pm. We considered going elsewhere but my friend is pregnant and was really in need of some food so she ordered so the trimmings of the roast with cauliflower cheese as her main, and paid for that as well as her husbands roast pork. I also ordered roast pork and paid separately. We were not advised of any delay to the food service. At 3pm, (45 mins after ordering) the 2 roast pork’s came but not the vegetarian. The roast pork’s looked extremely disappointing; neither came with crackling (which they were supposed to) each had 2 small and very anemic looking roast potatoes, a single parsnip which was the size of my baby finger, a small bit of broccoli which was supposed to be tender stem but wasn’t, some very wet looking cabbage and a Yorkshire pudding which tbf looked ok although clearly from a packet. Everything looked extremely disappointing and cold but we waited patiently for the 3rd meal to arrive. 20 minutes later we asked the staff how much longer our hungry and pregnant friend would have to wait for her food (and therefore how much longer we would have to wait as it would be incredibly rude to just eat our food I front of her) and we were told (quite rudely) they had no idea how long it would be and it was shrugged off. After 25 minutes, with non of us having eaten, we decided to ask for a refund and leave. My friends were (supposedly) given a refund, although we’re not sure that this actually happened as they never asked to present the original card that was used to pay. I asked for a refund on my meal also (as it was never eaten, missing items and looked about the standard of a school lunch, if you went to a really nice school) and they refused to refund me. We ended up going to the Watermans Arms to get a Sunday roast there and it was SO good. If you’re considering eating at The George, I STRONGLY recommend you cancel that plan and go to the Watermans...

Evening of Saturday July 15, 7:00 PM ish. Very rude young lady serving at the smaller bar area closer to the restaurant area! Asked for a pint of Timothy Taylor (which they stock), she just shook her head and dismissively said no in the most cold, unfriendly & unwelcoming manner I have experienced in some time mumbling - Doonbar only (very bad manners). In fact, two out of their usual three Ale drafts were not available so I ended up with one I did not really want and paid £5.45 (wow central London Price, but without the buzz!). When I said OK I will have the only one you have, she then, like lightening, put said eye watering price on the card machine & proceeded to turn on her heels so quick to the other side of the bar to get the Pint before I could even utter any words that I also wanted some chips and crisps. Note, I was the only one on that side of the bar so not even busy (so not busy, in fact, same lady was seen furiously texting on her phone - so perhaps I was a hinderance to her social life). Generally, its good manners to serve the item, then charge for the item and ask do you want anything else or if required to pay ahead ask is that everything. By this point I had lost the will to live and just tapped my card for payment thinking God, I want out of here! When said beer arrived I had lost the will to order anything else. But to complete this truly miserable unhospitable experience off, when I nipped of to the toilet quickly, leaving almost half my £5.45 pint still on the bar next to my bar stool where I had been seated (and they clearly saw me walk right passed them on the way to the toilet) they had thrown it away when I returned (I was gone 15 seconds & did not have the will to take it up with them as it had already been such a negative experience). Really disappointed and frankly a little insulted to be treated so poorly as I used to live on the Island for almost two years and visited this pub many times even taking my mum there for Sunday Roasts when she was visiting from Canada so this was a memory lane experience gone horribly wrong and an absolute buzz kill! Hence, I won't be returning and feel management are taking peoples hard earned money...

🚇 Crossharbour 🍺 £6.65 Cruzcampo

The George is located in the heart of the Isle of Dogs close to Millwall docks. The nearest station is Crossharbour on the DLR.

The pub was originally built in 1864, the pub you see today was built in 1932 for Watney Combe Reid.

This is a traditionally decorated pub that has retained its original three bars. The Public Bar is located on the right and has beautiful wall panelling, comfy banquettes, a dartboard and elegant bar-back behind a solid looking servery. In between the Public and Saloon Bar is a snug called Ma Baker's, apparently it is named after a regular at the pub. To the left is a spacious Saloon Bar which leads to a conservatory for diners. At the rear of the pub is a good size beer garden with ample seating. There are some lovely features throughout the pub, the walls are covered in old photos that celebrate the proud history of the Island, branded Britannia tables plus there’s a proper pub carpet running throughout.

The beer line up will please most and offers a selection of well known beers and cask ale. I decided on a Cruzcampo, my pint was excellent, price point was a little pricey. The food menu offers hearty portioned pub classics, Fish & Chips costs £14.49, Roasts are available on a Sunday.

We arrived just after 12pm on a windy Saturday lunchtime in October, the pub was fairly quiet as it had long opened. There were three locals in attendance to watch the early kick off which was showing on the many screens dotted around the pub. There is a nice local pub feel here, settling in was very easy. The service was great, the team members on duty were upbeat and welcoming.

We loved it here, @thegeorgeisleofdogs is a traditional pub that ticks all the boxes. The decor, the setting and local pub atmosphere made for a superb experience.

A special thanks to @booze_house_tales who lives on the Island, he was kind enough to show my Brother and I around the landmarks and pubs of the Isle of Dogs.

📅 12th October 2024

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